Carberry makes most of loophole

Paul Carberry is serving a long ban but he was able to ride at the rescheduled Thurles fixture because of a loophole in the rules and he made the most of the opportunity.

The talented rider, whose suspension covers specific racedays, partnered Chicago Grey to success in the Clonoulty Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott's charge (8-1) made smooth progress on the turn for home and after jumping the last just behind Smoking Aces, took over on the run-in to score by half a length.

Disappointment of the race was the highly rated 11-8 favourite Luska Lad, who was prominent for a long way but backpedalled quickly from the third-last.

Whinstone Boy came out on top in a thrilling renewal of the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle.

There were four in with a chance as they jumped the last flight and though long-time leader Paddy Pub quickly faded out of it, the other three went at it hammer and tongs up the run-in.

Sean Flanagan just got Jimmy Mangan's gutsy 14-1 shot home by a head from Powerstation, with Boulavogue a length and a half further away in third place.

Rhyl Accord's bumper form entitled him to the utmost respect in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle and he obliged with little fuss under Paul Townend.

Willie Mullins' 4-5 favourite took over from Emotional Melody approaching the final flight and strode clear to win by four and a half lengths.

Townend initiated a double when the well-backed Gentle Alice (9-2 favourite) made light of the testing conditions to take the Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle.

She was going better than anything approaching two out and took it up on the run to the last before skipping 11 lengths clear to give Donie Murphy his first winner with a trainer's licence.

Henry De Bromhead's Kilmurry stayed on all the way to the line to win the Cahir Maiden Hurdle in the hands of Andrew Lynch.

Prominent all the way, the 8-1 shot refused to be denied when tackled by Colleoni and held the favourite's challenge by three-quarters of a length.

Gerry Keane's Steviemac (5-2 favourite) followed up his recent Punchestown victory with an impressive victory in the 2.45 Handicap Hurdle.

Guided by CP McNally once again, it won comfortably by 11 lengths as 9/2 favourite from Kempinski.